Although he missed Jenny fiercely, he knew his place. He belonged on the ranch. He loved working hard in the hot sun and was used to coming home with calloused hands and a layer of dust that needed to be showered off. Hank was a country mouse that didn’t belong in the city mouse’s world, no matter how much his heart ached for her.
He leaned back, watching the minute hands on the clock tick by, telling himself that he wasn’t really waiting for Jenny to come back. When the clock passed the half-hour mark, Hank began to fidget in his seat. It wouldn’t hurt to grab a bite of food, right? And if he happened to bump into a certain green-eyed girl? It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Hank followed the smell of hamburgers frying on the grill and rounded the corner to the cafeteria. The booths were filled with people, their faces creased with worry lines. Cheerful slogans lined the walls, but the fact remained that most people didn’t come to hospitals under happy circumstances. Hank scanned the room for Jenny, but she wasn’t there. He looked up at the menu, trying to decide on something to eat, and then turned around to look for Jenny again.
A girl in one of the booths shifted, and her hair parted around her face. Jenny. She was asleep. Hank saw her, and his hands began to shake. He walked over to the booth and cleared his throat. Jenny startled awake, sitting up abruptly. Her eyes took a moment to focus, and then she looked up at Hank, her face breaking into a shy smile.
Hank reached down and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “Hi. Is this seat taken?” He slid onto the bench across from Jenny without waiting for an answer, fighting the urge to grab the girl and run far away from their situation.
“How is my grandma doing?” she asked.
Hank grunted. “She was sleeping when I left. The doctor hasn’t come by yet.”
“I guess that is good. She needs her rest.”
Hank watched Jenny, but he couldn’t read her face. It was taking all his energy to stay put on his side of the table and let her talk. “How are you doing?” Hank asked, looking at the girl who stole his heart, really seeing her for the first time today. He took in her wrinkled skirt, the bags under her eyes, and hair that was spilling out from her ponytail. A pang of guilt entered his heart. She rushed here because of his call, but Jo Jo was completely fine. False alarm. He wondered what leaving had cost her.
Jenny smiled at Hank, a small, soft smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I started the morning getting a lecture from my awful boss and finished the day sitting in the hospital with my grandma and the guy who . . .” Her voice trailed off; the sentence unfinished.
“Who . . .” Hank prompted.
“Who . . . I missed. A lot. It’s really hard to be here with you.”
Hank’s heart sank. “Why?”
“Because I still haven’t fixed things at home, and I didn’t think I’d be back here so soon.” The words came out in a rush. “It is going to be torture having to say goodbye again when my grandma is better.”
Hank’s heart thudded. “You could stay.” He watched emotions flicker across Jenny’s face.
“I really can’t, but I wish I could.”
Someone rapped on the glass window, interrupting the conversation. A man stood in the hall, waving Hank over. “That’s Jo Jo’s doctor. Let’s go see what he needs.” He reached for Jenny’s arm to help her up, and then wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her close. Together, they followed the doctor to Jo Jo’s room, Hank refusing to let go of Jenny until they were right outside the door. They followed the doctor into the room.
“How are you feeling, Miss Jo Jo?” the doctor asked. He held a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. He tapped a few keys on the nearby computer, looking at Jo Jo’s vitals.
“I’m feeling fine. Just a little tired.” Jo Jo tried to sit up in her bed, but Jenny pushed her shoulder back down.
“Let the doctor check you out,” Jenny said.
The doctor chuckled. “She’s okay if she wants to sit.” He reached down and pushed some buttons on the side of the bed, raising the backrest for Jo Jo. “Better?”
Jo Jo nodded. The doctor looked down at his chart again, and then glanced around the room. “It looks like you’ve got a bunch of helpers here. That’s good. You’re going to need a support system going home.”
Louis reached for Jo Jo’s hand. “What is the verdict, doc?” The doctor glanced at the chart, and then back at Jo Jo.
“Your cardiomyopathy is acting up again, but I’m not sure that we have you on the right medicines to treat it. We’re going to start you on a new medicine, but you’ll need to follow up with your doctor regularly. I’d feel a lot better if I send you home knowing you’ll have help for the next few weeks until we can tell we’re getting the proper results.”
“So, she gets to go home?” Jenny’s face broke out in a grin.
“Yes. I put the paperwork in to release her. In my experience, people heal a lot better without all the poking and prodding we like to do here at the hospital. I need you to bring her back for a follow-up visit at the end of the week.”
Louis and Jenny high-fived, while Hank stood at the edge of the room, his hands in his pockets. Jo Jo was coming home, which was great news, but Hank wasn’t sure how he would juggle caring for her on top of his normal duties on the ranch. He glanced at Jenny, but her attention was riveted on the doctor. Life at Rosecrown Ranch was about to get a lot busier.
Chapter 24
Jenny’s decision to head back to the ranch with her grandma was an easy one. She knew that there was no way she’d be able to focus on work when Jo Jo was sick. She helped Hank load Jo Jo into Louis’s car to take her home, and then watched as Louis pulled carefully out onto the road. She tried to ignore the tingles that rushed through her body when she climbed into Hank’s truck
The ride back to the ranch was heavy with silence, the pressure to say something weighing Jenny down. She stole glances at Hank, but he looked straight ahead, watching the road with the attention span of someone learning to drive for the first time. Every time she opened her mouth to speak, she clamped it shut again. A few minutes into the drive, Hank reached for her hand. “I know it’s not the best circumstances, but I’m glad you’re here.”
Lacing her fingers through his, she slid to the middle of the seat and leaned against Hank’s shoulder. “Do you realize that this morning I was in a meeting? I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that I was sitting in a room with the most awful boss earlier today, and now I’m here. There’s a good chance I’ve been fired.”
“Everything is going to be okay,” Hank said.
Jenny raised his hand to her lips, giving it a quick kiss. “I hope so.” She yawned, the adrenaline of the day wearing off.
When Hank pulled off the main road and into the driveway, Jenny’s heart lifted. She climbed out of the truck and closed her eyes, breathing deeply, taking in the smell of fresh-cut grass. Calm flowed through her body as the tension of the day faded away. Hank walked to her side of the truck, pulling her into a hug. She held on tightly, slowing her breathing to match his.
“Thanks for taking care of my grandma.” She gave his arm a squeeze. “I need to check how she’s doing.”
Hank kissed the top of her head. “I guess I’d better see what David still needs help with.”
“I forgot he was here. How is that going?”
A shadow crossed Hank’s face. “We can talk about it later. You’ve got a grandma to catch up with, right?”
When Jenny entered the house, she found Jo Jo on the couch, a glass of water on the end table in front of her. Jenny sat down carefully beside her, wrapping her in a hug. “Do you need anything?” she asked, handing her a blanket.
“Sweetheart, you look dead on your feet.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve still got some gas left in the tank. Should I start dinner?”
Jo Jo nodded. “That would be wonderful.”
Jenny headed to the kitchen and r
ummaged through the fridge until she found a package of thawed chicken breast. She pulled out carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, setting them near the cutting board. Before long, the kitchen was filled with the smell of sizzling chicken.
Cooking kept Jenny’s hands busy, but her mind had plenty of time to wander. Stepping back into her life in California had been strange, but being on the ranch didn’t quite feel like home either. Would she always feel torn between two worlds? She glanced down at her outfit. The dress slacks and silk shirt she wore seemed out of place in the kitchen, where grease might splatter on her clothes and ruin them. At least she had one of Jo Jo’s aprons to wear.
When dinner was over and the dishes were done, Jenny excused herself and made her way to the stable. Bacon whinnied a greeting, which lifted her spirits immediately. He was an uncomplicated reason for missing the ranch. Jenny reached for his brush and settled into the rhythm of grooming her horse. His hair was silky smooth, and he leaned into the brushing with the eagerness of someone who was getting a favorite treat. Jenny leaned her head against his mane and closed her eyes. Someone had clearly been taking good care of him.
When the stable door opened, Jenny shook her head. She didn’t need the interruption. Boots clomped across the floor toward Bacon’s pen, footsteps that she’d recognize anywhere, and still, Jenny didn’t turn. Her heart sped up with the thought of Hank approaching, but she wasn’t ready to face him. Not here, where they had grown so close. Jenny waited until he unlatched the door to the pen before she turned around.
Hank wrapped his hand around Jenny’s and carefully took the brush from her, hanging it on the hook beside the door. With her heartbeat pulsing loudly in her ears, Jenny stepped away from the comfort of her foal. She studied Hank’s face, noticing new worry lines that creased his brow. He was still breathtakingly handsome, but now he had a layer of sadness to him that made him vulnerable. Hank opened his arms, and Jenny stepped into his embrace.
As his arms folded around her, Jenny’s walls shattered. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his cologne. His shirt was soft beneath her cheek, but the arms encircling her were firm, protective. Hank rubbed a circle on her back, and the floodgate of emotion swung open. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close, and let her tears and pent-up frustration from the day fall on his chest, soaking his shirt. Hank was safety and comfort, and Jenny needed both after her long day of stress.
Holding her, Hank could imagine that she had never left the ranch and that everything was fine between them. He knew the truth, though. Even though Jenny was back, she’d have to leave again. She wasn’t here for him. She was here for her grandma. Hank pressed his lips to the top of Jenny’s head. This time when she left, he was going to make sure she knew how important she was to him. He had let his walls down, and there was no going back to the way things were before the green-eyed girl had come to the ranch.
Jenny lifted her head off his chest and wiped her eyes. She was beautiful, even with the smeared mascara and puffy eyes. Hank relaxed his arms so that they were loosely wrapped around her back.
“I’m so sorry,” he said.
“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m sorry she got hurt on my watch.”
Jenny snorted. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t give her the heart condition, although you are a bit difficult to work with . . .”
The teasing words sent daggers into the open target of Hank’s heart. “Jenny, I’m serious. When you left the ranch, I tried to keep everything together.” He gestured to Bacon’s stall, where the little horse was watching them curiously. “I took care of Bacon. I took care of the ranch. And I really did try to take care of your grandma.”
“And because of you, she was able to get to the hospital quickly and get her heart fixed.” Jenny’s face was firm, her eyes determined. “Hank. You. Saved. Her.” Her words were punctuated with intention, but Hank didn’t believe her. He had tried his best, and it wasn’t enough. Clearly, this was an argument he wasn’t going to win with Jenny in her current state of mind. He reached his hand up to brush a strand of hair out of her face.
“We really missed having you here.” Hank’s words hung in the air, available for Jenny to take and dissect however she wanted.
Jenny looked across the barn. “I didn’t realize how quickly I’d grow attached to this place. I thought about you every single day, but I didn’t know how to reach out.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
Hank took Jenny’s hand and pulled her out of the stable. “I want to show you something.” They crossed through a field, Hank leading Jenny to a small wooden gate. He unlatched it and walked Jenny down the path, the sky folding back the final rays of sun, with deep purple filling the night.
“Where are we going?” Jenny asked.
“We’re almost there.” Hank said. “Do you trust me?”
Jenny’s laughter filled the night. “Are we on some sort of extreme adventure? Jo Jo isn’t going to be happy if you let a bear eat me.”
“We’re here.” Hank turned Jenny so she was facing a small pond and stood behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“We are literally standing in the middle of a field. Is this a joke?” Jenny craned her head to look at Hank.
“Be patient. It’s almost time.”
The final rays of light disappeared behind the mountain, leaving the field illuminated by the faintest sliver of a moon. He began scanning the field in earnest, hoping his timing was right.
Jenny grabbed his arm. “What was that?”
He leaned down to rest his chin on her head. “Keep watching.”
As their eyes adjusted to the dark, they began to see flickers of light darting across the field. Soon the night was filled with tiny blinking bodies, a swarm of fireflies dancing through the dark.
Jenny spun around and grabbed Hank’s face in her hands. “That is amazing.” She pressed a kiss to his lips, making his heart race. Then she turned back to the field. “Can we catch them?”
Hank laughed. “We can try.”
Chapter 25
Jenny woke up the next morning to the familiar crowing of roosters. She threw a pillow over her head, groaning at the punctuality of the ranch alarm clock. Petaluma had its drawbacks, but at least she was able to sleep in when she wanted to. The shirt she was wearing scratched against her skin, and Jenny remembered that she had come to the ranch with literally the clothing on her body and her purse. That was it. She didn’t even have a phone charger.
With a large yawn, Jenny swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled on her clothes from yesterday. They were wrinkled and carried the smell of hospital soap, but they were better than nothing.
Jenny paused at the sight of her high heels, resting against the door. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t stuff her feet into the uncomfortable shoes any more. She opened the door to the closet, and her boots were still there, with the hat leaning against them. Jenny pulled the boots on over her bare feet, wincing when the cold leather touched her legs. With her outfit complete, she looked in the mirror and laughed. She looked absolutely ridiculous.
Jenny heard pans clanging around in the kitchen. She walked down the stairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to alert the early bird to her presence. Glancing around furtively, she wrapped her hands around the keychain hanging from the hook near the door. The keys clanged together, and Jenny froze. The clatter in the kitchen didn’t stop. She turned the handle and crept onto the porch, slowly shutting the door behind her. Then she ran to Jo Jo’s car, her purse banging against her side. As she pulled away from the house, Jenny glanced into the rearview mirror. Hank stood on the porch, his hands on his hips, watching her leave. He waved, a smile on his face.
Driving to town, Jenny scanned the streets for the local big box store. The parking lot was surprisingly full when she pulled in. She parked close to the store and climbed out of the car, feeling extremely self-conscious in her mismatch
ed outfit.
She found a pair of soft yoga pants for lounging, and then tried on a couple pairs of jeans. The thought of Shawn sending an overnight package of clothing was tempting, but she’d be home before too long. All she needed were a couple of outfits that she could mix and match.
She grabbed a charger for her phone, and a few necessities for hygiene, and then pushed her cart to the checkout line, where a tousled-haired clerk yawned between scanning her items. “Moving in somewhere?” he asked, yawning widely again.
“Kind of.”
“Well, I hope you like it. There’s some pretty nice folks around these parts.”
Jenny smiled. The poor kid looked like he should have stayed in bed. Still, she appreciated the sentiment. “Thanks. I’m excited to be here.” After sliding her credit card through the scanner, Jenny gathered the handles of all her bags together and dumped them in the car to head home. Jo Jo would be waking up soon.
She pulled into the driveway, eager to get a load of laundry going so she could wear something clean. Looping all of the bags over her arm, Jenny walked up the steps. The sound of raised voices froze her to the spot. Hank’s voice rose and fell. He was clearly upset. It took a second for Jenny to recognize David’s voice. She sat on the porch swing, not daring to interrupt the argument that sounded like it was coming from the entry way.
“Are you sure about that?” Hank asked. Jenny could hear the frustration he was trying to mask.
“I’m just saying that the two of you didn’t leave on the best of terms.” David sounded tired. Jenny pressed her back against the swing, wishing they would finish.
“You could have asked for my side. You knew how I felt about her.”
After a long pause, David responded, “Yeah. I knew how you felt about her. But she’s my sister, Hank. What was I supposed to do?”
Love at Rosecrown Ranch Page 14